Page 8 - Preview (GR)
P. 8

 07
Prime Minister’s Welcome Note
Nikoloz Gilauri Prime Minister
Dear Readers,
I have always thought that the best way to keep Georgia in the forefront of successful countries is to maintain limited government and the confidence of investors in our economic policy and ability to serve and respond to the needs of the business community. Preserving the pro-business orientation of the state remains our objective, so that businesses can act as driving factors for economic growth and development.
to be extremely successful. From a typical post-soviet country back in the late 90s and early 2000s, we have managed to develop into an extremely open, liberal, pro-business economy with high growth rates and huge amounts of investments flowing into the country. In the 2004-08 period, the economy grew by an average 9.3% (peaking at 12% in 2007), which is a remarkable figure for a country with no
increased, reaching 20% of the GDP in 2007.
I am highly confident that the forecast of 4-5% GDP growth will be met in 2010. My view is based on the positive trends of selected fiscal indicators for the fourth
is getting back to the growth trajectory with high single-digit growth potential in the medium term.
We are pleased that our reforms and achievements have been duly appreciated across the world. Your readers might already know that Georgia has been named as a top reformer for our region for the last five-year period by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Doing Business report—moving further up to 11th position worldwide in 2010 in terms of business-friendly
in the 26th position in its Economic Freedom Index study. And there are many others.
Corruption is no more an issue in Georgia. We have managed to substantially eradicate corrupt practices. Relevant studies by Transparency International prove this. Not only has the country made an unmatched leap in Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index (moving from 136th to 66th position in the 2004-09 period), the 2009 Global Corruption Barometer survey by the same organisation also noted that only about 2% of the Georgian population reportedly paid a bribe in the past 12 months. It placed Georgia in the group of the least
also highlighted our progress in combating corruption. Its 2009 survey noted that only 4% of the firms in Georgia expected to make ‘informal payments’, compared to the average 17% across Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
How did we achieve this?
in many directions and have introduced new and more efficient management practices. One of our main goals was to create an economic environment facilitating business activities to the maximum extent. To this end, we have limited government intervention and regulation, confined to the spheres and areas where
even legislatively straight-jackets the creation of additional regulations.
If we go into more particular details in describing Georgia’s business environment, I should firstly mention the tax code which is one of the most liberal and business- friendly in the world. It is no surprise already that our taxes are few and flat, taking Georgia to the position of the fourth friendliest tax regime worldwide on the Forbes 2009 Tax Misery and Reform Index.
Georgia has been named as a top reformer for our region for the last five-year period by the IFC Doing Business report.

















































































   6   7   8   9   10